The Lucky Men

In the early hours of the morning one would have expected to see Captain Zaraki sitting back on his porch trying to hide away from the sun. But this morning he was nowhere to be found.

He'd been called away on urgent business, to Squad One and to the Head-Captain. But this was no Captain's meeting, it was a meeting for the two.

"There's been a disturbance recently." Toshiro told. Kenpachi only nodded his head. There was a disturbance and it was on the early call of this meeting. The Sun had only just come up. The Young Captain needed to sort out his priorities. " Kenpachi!" Toshiro raised his voice snapping him from his thoughts." Are you listening?"

"Yes, Yes of course." Kenpachi nodded in a voice of his usual confidence. Toshiro sank back in his chair not knowing whether to believe him or not.

"Getting straight to the point." Toshiro continued." I'm dispatching you and your men into Hollow Infested territory. Clean it up as I know only you and yours can." Kenpachi smiled from ear to ear. This was exactly what he wanted to hear. Population control was the name of the game.

And when he returned Squad Eleven was all in a buzz of excitement to hear about the mission. Not everyone would be going sadly so every man jumped up and hoped to be picked. This is exactly what Fujimaru Kudo had been waiting for.

He had to be one of those on this mission.

Lieutenant Kusajishi was skipping about the courtyard poking men in their stomachs or slapping them on the leg as her way of picking them for the assignment. She skipped over and stopped before Fujimaru. He thought for a second she might not but his fear past when she poked him in the shoulder.

"Boop." She said as she did. Then she turned and skipped off. Fujimaru beamed inwardly. But he knew this might not hold up. If the Lieutenant had her way everyone would be picked for this mission, leaving no one to guard the Division in their absence. If he wanted to be picked he'd have to hurry up into formation.

He was shoulder to shoulder with his fellow Division mates. In front of him he saw Third Seat Ikkaku Madarame at the head of the formation. They stood there as the Lieutenant skipped around, waiting for Captain Zaraki's return.

He eventually returned to see his Division had been waiting for him. Yachiru jumped out from the crowd and onto her spot on his back. Despite being almost as old as Fujimaru himself she was still just a big baby.

"Adventure! Adventure!" she chirped. Kenpachi ran his hand across his chin.

"We can't take everyone." He said. Exactly what Fujimaru didn't want to her.

"Huh? What do you mean?" Yachiru questioned looking down at him.

"The Head Captain will give me hell if he hears I took the entire Division out. We can't take everyone. Half of you stay here!"

"Alright everyone!" Yachiru chirped." You heard 'em half of you have to stay behind. You half!" she pointed in the general direction of the right half of the Division." You stay!" Now Fujimaru wouldn't have said he was in that location. Technically he was more in the center. All the same as the numbers started to dwindled he pushed himself deeper into the ranks, so as to secure his spot.

"Alright." Kenpachi said lazily looking at what he had left. He showed them his back and began walking away." Let's move!" And the eleventh prepared to set out on their mission. The Senkaimon would take them where they needed to go but they found some travel companions waiting for them when they arrived.

Captain Seigen Suzunami of Squad Twelve met the Kenpachi when he arrived.

"Captain Zaraki." He said." These are the men I'm assigning for this mission." Kenpachi glanced over and saw about a dozen members of Squad Twelve standing there. Small and meek looking, just as expected of Squad Twelve." I'm putting them in your care, don't let anything bad happen to them."

"Yea." Kenpachi said scratching his chin." Listen up." He turned to them." We're going into hostile territory so don't think this'll be some picnic. When the fighting start just get down and stay out of our way. If you do that and somehow manage to not die otherwise then your free to go about…whatever it is you have to do." Needless to say the Captain's speech didn't inspire anyone to jump behind him.

But they had no choice, the small group lined up behind Squad Eleven. As they lined in the senkaimon was prepared and opened before them.

"One last thing." Seigen said getting Kenpachi's attention." When you are ready to return. You only have to use this." He pulled a small box shaped object from his pocket, there a big red button on it." Just press it and it will return you." Kenpachi said nothing and accepted it.

"Here we go." Fujimaru heard Ikkaku say. The boy gripped his sword tighter. Then when the doors opened fully Kenpachi led the charge and with his Lieutenant on his back charged head first into it. Then came Ikkaku and the seated Officers. Then Fujimaru and the rest with Squad Twelve right behind them.

Running through Fujimaru saw the Soul Society leave them in a flash of light. Then suddenly he could see no sky above him. Only the sick, twisted branches of trees and darkness beyond them.

The group crowded in on themselves, making it hard to see. The Captain was used as point, standing out amongst all others because of his white coat. The Squad Twelve members crowded together in a circle and Squad Eleven formed out and around them.

No one could see anything. Only the first few trees visible to light but nothing but darkness after. There were no sounds and that was most frightening part of all.

"Eyes open!" Ikkaku commanded. His sword and already been drawn in one hand as he held the scabbard in the other. The others including Fujimaru followed his example and drew their weapons.

Kenpachi seemed to be aware of everything. The way he sniffed the air, the way he turned his head. Something was out there and he knew it.

Then all at once a roar came from the woods and the darkness beyond. It was the worst sound Fujimaru had ever heard. A second later hundreds of red, burning eyes were looking at them. They hardly had enough time to gasp before the bodies attached to those eyes charged at them.

Hollows of different shapes, sizes. With teeth, claws, wings and more. By the hundreds charging at them. Kenpachi was the first to lead the charge. He drew his sword and with a laugh charged forward. Following closely behind was Third Seat Madarame, Fifth Seat Ayaseyegawa and one by one the rest of Squad Eleven rushed in.

The Soul Reapers and Hollows charged each other and then it all went into chaos. With a single slash Captain Zaraki swung down his sword not only cutting the Hollow in front of him to pieces but all the rest directly in front of him.

A Hollow snapped it's jaws at Ikkaku who jumped aside and then stabbed the beast in the head.

Fujimaru joined others as they surrounded one of the hollows. A monster ten feet tall with long dangly arms. They each jumped in cutting and slashing at the monster's legs with little effect. Fujimaru slashed with his kitana, cutting the beast across it's leg. His cut caused it to bleed and the monster swung it's long arm knocking Fujimaru along with three others down.

Then as he decided to get up another Hollow came out of nowhere and stepped on the man to his left, crushing him. Fujimaru heard his bones break and saw his eyes pop out of his head. He quickly rolled out of the way so as not to suffer the same fate.

He watched and saw as left and right his fellow Division members were being picked off. A flying hollow swopped down and bit off the head and shoulders of the man to his left. The Squad Twelve members shrunk down and screamed as they too were attacked.

But no matter what seemed to happen Captain Zaraki seemed to be enjoying himself. With another swing of his sword he took a Hollow's head clean off. Then turned around to cut another in half. And even when one flew at him from above he didn't even have to use his sword. He reached out his arm and punched the monster to oblivion.

His Officers were fighting with all their might, so he would do the same.

"Flash!" He commanded." Ryūjōmaru." The Gauntlet appeared on his arm and with sword in hand he rushed back into battle.

Meanwhile back in the Soul Society.

Toshiro sat behind his desk looking over some paperwork. Suddenly there came a knock at his door.

"Excuse me Head-Captain." Said Captain Kudo as she poked her head in the door." May I come in. I hope I'm not interrupting anything."

"Come in." He waved to her." What can I help you with?" Matsuri crossed the distance between the room and stopped when she stood before his desk.

"It's about Captain Zaraki, sir." She said." Or rather it's about this mission they've been sent on." Toshiro leaned back in his chair and ran his hand along his chin.

"What about them?" He said.

"I was going by Squad Eleven." Matsuri told." To visit my brother."

"Your brother." Toshiro said." Fujimaru's his name isn't it?"

"Yes, sir." She smiled." Thank you for remembering him."

"What about him?" Toshiro asked.

"Well, sir." Matsuri continued." I went by to visit him but found he wasn't there. And I'm worried."

"Worried about what?"

"Well that he went off on this mission. To the Forest of Menos. There's going to be a lot of fighting and I don't think he's ready for that. He always wanted to be in Squad Eleven but he's still a boy and I don't think he's ready for that." Toshiro rose up from his desk and walked around to stand before her.

"Captain Zaraki knows what he's doing." Toshiro said." He takes care of his men."

"But it'll be dangerous." She said frantically." And what if he gets hurt. There's nobody from Squad Four to help him, he'll be all alone and-" Toshiro reached out his hand and put it on her shoulder.

"Everything will be fine." He told her. And she believed him indicated by the smile on her face. The door to the room opened up and in walked Lieutenant Rangiku Matsumoto into this 'tender' scene.

In the forest of Menos the Hollows had retreated. Gone back into the dark pits they called home. And in this moment covered in blood Kenpachi had to make a decision.

"Third Seat." He called.

"Captain." Ikkaku said appearing at his side covered in just as much blood.

"We'll rest here tonight." Kenpachi pointed to the ground." Gather the dead." He said no more and turned away. Yachiru appeared and ran to his side, leaving Ikkaku to oversee the orders were carried out.

"Alright men." He turned." Whoever's not dead gather up anyone who is and put them in a pile." Luckily for Fujimaru he was not one of those dead.

They'd come here with around two hundred members of Squad Eleven. The best swordsman in all the Gotei 13. And now more than half of them lay dead in the sand and this mission had only just begun.

Fujimaru began following his orders and began looking for dead bodies of his comrades. He came upon one to see the man's head in the dirt. Fujimaru grabbed him by the ankles and pulled him out only to make a shocking discovery.

"Uh Third Seat."

"Huh?" Ikkaku questioned turning to him.

"There's uh…there's no head to this body." Fujimaru said his face turning pale. Ikkaku looked down at the head with relative indifference and then looked around.

"Find a head that matches and keep them together." Was Ikkaku's response. Fujimaru gulped down his disgust and began doing what was asked of him.

After the dead collected it was finally time to rest. At the command of Third Seat Madarame the survivors dug holes in the ground. Something that hid and protect them from threats. Except those in the air.

Fujimaru undid the top of his canteen and quickly brought it to his lips. He hadn't meant to drink all his water but it had been a long day. And before he knew it he had drained the entire thing.

Tired and still thirsty he sank down into the sand. Then he thought he could hear distinct chatter in the nearby hole. He looked over to see Third Seat Madarame and Fifth Seat Ayasegawa.

"Excuse me. Excuse me, sirs." The two tilted their heads and saw Fujimaru's blonde head poke up over the sands." Can uh can I come in?" Neither responded with words but instead just nodded." Thank you." Fujimaru said as he jumped over and slid down the sand to sit beside them. He didn't know what to expect coming into the Officer's hole. But apparently conversation wasn't one. Both silently sat back, eyes shifting and observing the skies above them." Where's Captain Zaraki?" Fujimaru questioned." And the Lieutenant?"

"Their around." Yumichika told." Most likely patrolling the forest." Fujimaru didn't exactly like the sound of that. He'd fell much better if he knew Captain Zaraki was nearby." But they'll be back when the fighting starts up again."

Ikkaku reached back and pulled out his own canteen. Then he took a long drink and let out a refreshing 'ah' as he sat back. He cocked his head to notice Fujimaru looking at him. Silently Ikkaku held out the canteen to him.

"Thank you." Fujimaru said accepting it. He brought the canteen to his lips. And when it was halfway down his throat he realized it wasn't water. He brought his hand to his mouth and began coughing.

"Careful with that!" Ikkaku said." That's the only bottle of sake I brought for this trip."

"S-Sake?" Fujimaru said between coughs.

"I always bring Sake into battle." Ikkaku said taking back the bottle and taking a drink.

"This uh this has been some day hasn't it?" Fujimaru said hoping to start a conversation.

"Yes." Yumichika said." More so for others I think." He titled his head to view a lone girl sitting by herself nearby. No doubt one of the Squad Twelve members." Poor girl, probably scared out of her wits."

"Well she knew what she was getting into." Fujimaru said hoping to emulate the talk he'd heard around the Division. Their reactions were not what he expected.

"No she didn't." Ikkaku said." None of us knew what we were getting into here."

"She probably had no idea what this mission was about." Yumichika chimed in." She was probably told to just come here and just followed her orders." Before Fujimaru could think the idea over he continued." She looks rather young was she in your class?"

"What?"

"Your graduating class." He told." Do you know her?" Fujimaru looked at her more carefully now. She had brown hair and glasses, that's what singled her out.

"Uh she looks kinds familiar." Yumichika nodded.

"You should go talk to her."

"WHAT?!"

"SHH!" they both jumped at him.

"I'm just saying she's probably scared out of her mind." Yumichika continued." Maybe a friendly face would help her out."

"But, But she's…from Squad Twelve. "He said repeating some more of the talk he'd heard. Once again they looked at him strangely.

"Do you think which Divisions were in really matters right now?" Ikkaku asked. Fujimaru nodded to his superior and did as advised. He moved across the sand and moved over to the girl. At his sudden appearance she looked like she'd jump out of her skin.

"It's alright, It's alright." He said to her." I'm not going to hurt you."

"I thought you were a Hollow." She panted.

"I'm sorry to have startled you. Can I sit down?" She nodded and he did that." So, uh are you doing alright?"

"Y-Yes. Well No, not really." She quickly corrected." This day wasn't what I expected at all." As she talked Fujimaru just continued to look her over. Closer to her now he knew now that he defiantly knew her from somewhere. But he was having problems remembering her name." Though I bet you're not scared."

"No." he quickly nodded, trying to hide the truth. But in actuality he was frightened but a man of Squad Eleven was tough." I'm not."

"Really? Even after all this." She motioned to the dead bodies close by.

"I mean it wasn't exactly what I expected." He admitted." I'm just happy my training has paid off."

"I remember watching you in Zanjustsu class." she told. So apparently she was a classmate." You fought so well. Even if someone was bigger than you, you still managed to beat them. I knew you'd be in Squad Eleven and here you are." Fujimaru nodded proudly." What seat are you?"

"I'm not a seated officer." Fujimaru replied.

"You're not?" she said shocked." But, But you fight so well. How can you-"

"We all fight well in Squad Eleven. The unseated members of Squad Eleven stack up against the best of any others." He said proudly.

"Even the Captains?" she questioned.

"Well not the Captains." He admitted." But the Lieutenants." He took tell by the look on her face that she didn't agree and it embarrassed him." So tell me why did you join Squad Twelve?"

"The Head-Captain recommended it to me actually." She said.

"You met the Head-Captain?!"

"Hmh." She nodded." Pretty amazing isn't it?" Fujimaru settled himself he acted too silly with that last comment.

"I'm much happier off knowing Captain Zaraki." She looked at him in slight disbelief. He watched her expecting her to say more. But he watched as her expression drastically changed. Her eyes opened wide and her jaw dropped. And before Fujimaru could question what it she pointed her finger up.

"Hado #4 Byakurai!" Fujimaru ducked as lightning shot from her finger and over his head. And the blast passed right through the head of a hollow that was about to take bite out of Fujimaru. After it's death a shrieking cry broke out in the night.

"We're under attack!" Ikkaku cried out. Fujimaru quickly sprang into action.

"Flash Ryūjōmaru!" He jumped out of the pit and swung his sword down, slashing a hollow across it's masked face. Looking over he saw Ikkaku jab forward and stab a hollow in the forehead, turning it to dust.

"Bloom for me Fuji Kujaku!" His blade turned into four sickles and he slashed the hollow before him into four pieces.

Fujimaru ran forward and slashed his blade along a hollow's leg, causing it to bleed. When another tried to bite at him he put his gauntlet forward for protection. When the Hollow bit down on it he swung around with his sword and cut it's jaw off.

"Kudo!" he heard his name shouted across the battlefield. He turned to see Ikkaku looking at him." Behind you." Fujimaru quickly turned and punched with his armored hand. And with the punch managed to knock two of the hollows teeth out. In pain the monster reared itself back and cried out. Fujimaru grip his sword with both hands and prepared for it to attack again.

The hollow came down at him opening it's mouth for a big chomp. Fujimaru rolled out of the way forcing it to bite into the sand. Then as he stood there next to it Fujimaru drove his sword right into it's neck. It lingered a moment but then disappeared the next.

Then he watched as a creature unlike any other came into the light. All the other Hollows were big and nasty with sharp teeth and claws but this one was different. His appearance was more human like their own except for it's completely white body, long tail and horns.

"What is that?" Fujimaru pointed to it. Others attentions had been drawn to it as well.

"A Vasto Lorde." Ran Tao said." The strongest of the Hollows. It's powers are said to be twice that of a Captain." Fujimaru looked across the battlefield to see the creature. Something that powerful was standing there right before him. He gripped his sword tighter ready for battle.

Then suddenly a figure appeared between Fujimaru and the Vasto Lorde. None other than Captain Zaraki. No doubt when he heard the strength of the creature he made his presence known.

Now he stood before it and the two began eyeing each other down. Then all at once the fight started and the Vasto Lorde moved first.

It lunged forward right into Kenpachi's blade catching it with his bare hand. But Kenpachi continued his attack and pushed the blade against it. The Hollow let out a cry as it moved Kenpachi's blade aside and move in for the attack. But when it got close Kenpachi grab it's wrist and threw the beast into the sky.

From there the Vasto Lorde raised his hand and a cero formed in it's hand. But when it fired Kenpachi did not even blink. He swung his sword and cut the cero in two. That had been the greatest sight Fujimaru had ever seen.

"Excellent." Kenpachi smiled. The Vasto Lorde moved back towards the ground." This will be a lot of fun." And in one swift motion Kenpachi tore the eyepatch off his face.

And the spiritual pressure that was released was enough to kill all the nearby hollows and knock the Soul Reapers off their feet. That cero cut was now Fujimaru's second favorite thing. Kenpachi's spiritual pressure was the first.

Now at full power Kenpachi lunged forward and attacked the Vasto Lorde. The rest of the fight was just a long flash of light for Fujimaru. But when he could finally see again he saw Captain Zaraki standing over two pieces of the Hollow before it disappeared. His only wound from the battle was a slash across his right arm.

"Wonderful Captain." Ikkaku said jumping to Kenpachi's side." Excellent."

"HaHa." Yachiru laughed jumping onto his shoulder." Kenny's the best." With both eyes Kenpachi viewed his surroundings. He had a few more Division members dead but the nearby Hollows had been exterminated. And with the Vasto Lorde that doubled their count.

"I'd say we're about done here." He said.

"Are we going home Kenny?" Yachiru asked. Kenpachi reached into his coat and pulled out the device given to him by Seigen, somehow undamaged by the battle.

"Yea." He said pressing the button. And then a large white door appeared before them. Visibly on the other side was the Soul Society. Kenpachi handed the device off to Ikkaku." Take the dead first." He ordered.

"Yes, sir." Ikkaku said. Then Ikkaku roused everyone who wasn't dead to gather those that were and begin carrying them through the doors and back into the Soul Society.

Fujimaru did so without incident but as he did he noticed Captain Zaraki standing in the same spot the whole time. After the dead were carried through Ikkaku returned to their Captain.

"Sir the dead have passed through."

"Now the alive." Kenpachi said. Ikkaku in turn called out his orders. Most were happy to leave, Ran Tao amongst them. But Fujimaru at seeing his chief officers behind lingered.

"Third Seat?" He asked." What's going on?"

"We're going home." Ikkaku told.

"But the Captain what's he doing?"

"Don't worry about that." Ikkaku said." Go through like your told, the Captain will be along shortly." Fujimaru not wanting to disobey and order further went through the portal. After he'd gone Ikkaku ran back to Kenpachi.

"The dead are all through, Captain." Ikkaku told." Those still alive have passed through as well. Kenpachi looked away from him and viewed the battlefield one last time. Then without a word he turned and began walking towards the portal.

Ikkaku picked up his speed to pass the Captain, making sure he was the last one to leave. Fujimaru himself was already through and walking between the rows of on-lookers who came to see Squad Eleven return.

Kenpachi walked through holding his sword in one hand, resting it on his shoulder. Yachiru jumped up and rest on his shoulder as Ikkaku and Yumichika followed alongside him. And Fujimaru found himself walking with them with the gaping, inspired eyes of the entire Gotei 13 looking at them. He liked this.

Looking forward someone made his way through the crowd and now stood before them. Fujimaru did not know who he was but could tell by the coat that he was a Captain. Though in truth he knew only two. His own Captain and his Sister. The Captain approached and stopped before them.

"Captain Zaraki." He began the greeting.

"Head-Captain." He responded with a nod. Fujimaru looked up in shock. He had never expected to see the Head-Captain her." Mission complete." The young Head-Captain nodded. His eyes shifting from the Captain and to his men. And they seemed to spend an extra amount of time on Fujimaru, surprised to see a body amongst men.

"So few of you have returned." He said next. Kenpachi nodded.

"They knew the score."

"As you say. You'll see them properly taken care of?" Kenpachi nodded." Very well. As you were." He had other matters to attend to now. As he walked away he came upon Captain Kudo.

"Head-Captain." She greeted him. He replied with a nod before following her line of sight. They came to rest on the youngest of Squad Eleven.

"Your brother seems to be doing well." Toshiro commented.

"Yes Head-Captain." Matsuri nodded." It looks like it." Toshiro nodded. Maybe he would have to keep an eye on the younger Kudo after all. He'd watch his career with great interest.